Animal-trap.



Patented luly I8, |899. J. WADSWDRTH.

ANIMAL TRAP.

No Model (Application led Oct. I3, 1898.)

2 Sheets-Sheet I.

Patented .Iuly I8, |899. J. `WDSWR'I'H.

A N M A L T R A P.

(Application tiled Oct. 13, 1898.)

2 Sheets-Sheet 2.

{No.Model.)

, Pr-lo'roumo.. WASNINGTQN. 9. c

JOHN lVADSV-ORTI-I, OF MANCHESTER, ILLINOIS.

ANIMAL-TRAP.

SPEOIFIGATIONOrmingpart of Letters Patent No. 628,969, dated July 18', 1899'.

l Application tiled October 1S, i898. ASerial No. 693,422. v(No model.)

. To 'wZZ whom tm/ay concern: t

Be it known that I, JOHN WADSWORTH, a citizen of the United States, residing at Manchester, in` the county of Scott and State of Illinois, have invented a new and useful Animal-Trap, of' which the following is a speciiication.

The invention relates to improvements in animal-traps. g

The object of the present invention is to improve the construction of self-set and ever-v set animaltraps and to provide a simple and efficient one which will be positively reliable in operation and capable of catching succes-v sively a number of animals without replenishing the bait. l

The invention consists in the construction and novel combination and arrangement of parts, as hereinafter fully` described, illustrated in the accompanying drawings, and pointed out in the claims hereto appended.

In the drawings, Figure l is a perspective l View of an animal-trap constructed in accordance lwith this invention. Fig. 2 is a plan View, partly in section. Fig. 3 is `a vertical sectional View on line 3 3 ofY Fig. 2. Fig. 4is a transverse sectional vievs1 on line 4 4 of Fig. 2. Fig. 5 is a reverse plan view of the rotary trap-door. y

Like numerals of reference designate corresponding parts in all the figures of the drawings. l l

l designates a casing constructed of any suitable material and having its lower por- ,tion forming a cage or receptacle for`captured animals and provided at one end with a door 2 for the removal of the same. The top of the casing is provided'with an opening 3, in which is mounted a' rotary trap-door 4, adapted to receive abait for attracting an animal and capable of being tripped and rotated by the same, whereby such animal is precipi` tated into the lower portion or trap of the casing. The rotary trap-door 4 is journaled in suitable bearings and hasseparate journals 5 and 6;. but a continual shaft may be employed,` if desired.

The journal 6 is extended and is connected with a spring-actuated gear-Wheel 7, adapted to actuate the rotary trap-door and forming a part of a spring-motor 8 of any ordinary construction. The spring-motor 8, which is provided with a barrel-spring 9, has a winda in g-shaft connected With'the same and is provided with an exteriorly-arranged key 10, 1ooated in an opening of the casing, as illustrated in Fig. 4 of the accompanying drawings; but the key may be located entirely outside of the casing, if desired. Each time the rotary trap-door is tripped it is rotated one revolution, and the spring-motor may be constructed forrotating the trap-door any desired number of revolutions at one winding of it, as will be readily understood. l The casing is provided with partitions l2 and 13, forming a well for the reception of the rotary trap-door, and the latter is supported in a horizontal position by a stop 14, mounted on and extending outward from the partition 12.

On the lower face of the rotary trap-door is pivotally mounted a spring-actuated catch 15, projecting beyond one end of the trapdor and arranged to engage the stopl4 to limit the rotation of the trap'door and sup- .port `the same in position for tripping. The

catch, which is pivoted at its inner end, is -adapted to swing laterally, and one of its edges is engaged by a spring 16, which holds the catch normally, against a stop or projec-v tion 17. When the trap-door is tripped, the

catch is swung laterally against the action of the spring I6 sufficiently to clear the stop I4, y and as soon as the animalis precipitated into the bottom portion of the casing the catch resumes its normal position and stops the rotation ofthe trap-door, holding the same in position to be again tripped.

The tripping of the trap-door is effected by means of a depressible platform 1S, normally supported by springs 19 and 2O in an elevated position, and provided with a depending tapering arm 2l, consisting, preferably, of

a loop, as shown, and adapted when the platform is depressed to forcethe catch laterally out of` engagement with the sto 14. The springs 19 are disposed transversely of the trap-door, being secured at their lower ends to the same and having their upper ends loosely engaging the inner or lower face of the platform. The other spring 20 is disposed structed in the same manner as the springs 19. The trap-door is provided with an opening for the passage of the arm 2l, and the up- ICO `longitudinally of the trap-door and is cony ward movement of the depressible platform a bait.

is limited by an arm or rod 22, extending through an aperture of the trap-door, secured at its upper end to the platformv andhaving its lower end bent at an" angle and engaging the lower face of the said trap-door.

Whenthe weight of a mouse or other animal is insuiiicient to trip thevtrap-door, this result iseffected by means of a rock-shaft 23, journaled on and extending through the trapdoor, provided at its lower end with a short horizontal arm and having a long horizontal arm 24: at its upper end, adapted to receive The short lower arm 25 is arranged to engage the catch, and the upper arm, which receives the bait, provides sufficient leverage so that an animal pulling on the bait will rock the shaft and trip the trap-door. In order to enable animals attracted by the bait to reach. the top of the casing, an inclined platform or way26 is provided and is arranged on the exterior of the sides of the' casing, as clearly illustrated inFig. l of the accompanyingdrawings. Thisinclinedplatform or way, which extends from the top to the bottom of-the casing, is lpreferably arranged on three sides of the same and consists of three sections supported'by substantially L-shaped brackets 27 provided at the outer ends of its horizontal arms with upwardly-extending projections 28 and having their Vertical arms mounted in suitable eyes 29 of the casing,whereby the brackets are hin ged v tothe same and are adapted to fold compactly for shipping or storing. The sections of the inclined platform or Way are adapted to be readily removed from the brackets when v `it is desired to store or ship the traps.

The invention has the following advantages: The trap, which is simple and comparatively inexpensive in construction, is positive and reliable in operation and is capable of capturing a large number of animals successively without rebaitin git. The platform is adapted to be tripped by the Weight of an animal, and shoulda mouse or other animal be too light `to effect this result any pulling at the bait will accomplish the same.

Changesin the form, proportion, and minor details of construction may be resorted to without departing from the spirit or sacrifici'ng any of the advantages of thisinvention.

Vhat is claimed is- 1. A trap comprising a casing, a rotary trap`= door mounted therein, a catch pivotally mounted on the lower face of the trap-door and arranged to engage the casing to support the said trap-door in a horizontal position,

and a vertical rock-shaft passing through theA trap-door and provided at its lower end with a horizontally-swinging arm arranged to engage the catch, said rock-shaft being provided at its upper end with an arm extending outward at an angle and adapted to receive a bait, substantially as described.

2. A trap comprising a casing, arotary trapdoor mounted therein, a catch arranged on the lower face of thetrap-door and adapted tosupport the latter in a horizontal position,

adepressible platform arranged on the trapdoor, and an arm dependingfrom the platform and having an inclined edge arranged to engage the catch, substantially as and for the purpose described.

3. A trap compri ng a'casing, a rotary trapdoor mounted therein, a depressible platform arranged ou the trap-door, a pivoted springactuated catch supporting the trap-door in a horizontal position and arranged to be engaged and trippedvby the platform, and a bait- `receiving rock-shaft arranged to engage the catch and adapted to trip the trap-door, substantially as described. 1

4. A trap comprising a casing, a pivoted trap-door 4mounted therein andcapable of rotation, a depressible platform hinged to the trap-door, springs for supporting the platform in an elevated position, anarm depending from the plat-form and limiting the Inovement of the same, and a catch arranged to be t tripped by the platform, substantially as described.

IOO 

